Cusco, Peru

We’re now at 11,200 feet in Cusco. ....and we’re feeling it. Cusco is one of my favorite towns in South America. Wonderful restaurants, colorful markets, and lots of warm and friendly locals. It’s a great place to wander. This was my third time to this lovely place.

 La Catedral at Plaza de Armas. The first Catholic Church in South America.

 Plaza de Armas, Cusco.

 Jardin Sagrado and the old Palace, Cusco.

 The old palace at night. 

 Cusco local market.

Head cheese at the local market.

Sacred Valley, Peru

A return visit to the Sacred Valley. We explored some new sights but Ollantaytambo is still the hightlight. 

View of the Sacred Valley.

Market at Chinchero.

A Peruvian Street Vendor selling, guess what? Yes, Peruvian pan pipes.

Street in Urubambu.

Peruvian hairless dog.

A weaving demonstration.

View from the top of the Ollantaytambo Archaeological site.

Incan stonework at Ollantaytambo.

Ollantaytambo. The trek to the top isn’t too bad. It’s only about ten thousand feet elevation here.

Peru has over three thousand varieties of potatoes. This particular potato is said to test the skills of a prospective bride. If she can peel it successfully, she will make a great wife to some lucky man.

Machu Picchu, Peru

Not sure if the tightened entry regulations are doing anything to ease over tourism at the site. We were here three years ago and there seems to be twice as many people now. Still, we managed to get a handful of pictures with no other people view because we took them very late in the day.

An overcast day with rain threatening but it never came.

Incan stone work. 

Llamas at the top near the Inca trail.

View from the top.

Afternoon crowds at the site.  The new entry system has 600 people entering each hour with restricted routes.  

Afternoon at the site. We had two entries, with lunch outside between entries.

It’s usually less crowded in the afternoons.

View of the Sun Temple.

View towards the peak of Machu Picchu.

The main entrance to Machu Picchu. 

Built in the mid-1400s and inhabited for about a hundred years.

It really is an incredible place, but probably our last ever visit here.

Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica, Peru

While slogging around the rainforest, we didn’t see many birds but we did catch many glimpse of butterflies.

Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica, Peru

Three days in the Amazon rainforest of Peru without internet, and it was raining. Low season with only eight guests, and a staff of a hundred.

Arriving at Puerto Maldonado where there’s a Golden Gate Bridge. 

Heading down the Amazon to our resort, Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica.

A riverside bungalow.

The local rodents which are about a foot and a half long, not including the tail.

Pisco sours every day.

Waiting out a rainstorm. Heavy rains in the morning. Peru has five percent of the worlds fresh water.

 

Hiking in the jungle in almost knee-deep mud.

There’s a series of canopy bridges suspended about 150 feet over the floor of the jungle.

A strand of mushrooms.

Canoeing through the wetlands I search of anacondas and caymans. 

It’s been a fun few days here, even with the rain.